A Carlin Home Companion: Growing Up with George - Memoir of Comedy Legend George Carlin | Family Stories & Humor | Perfect for Comedy Fans & Book Clubs

Kelly Carlin's book is her life story, her history. Coming of age with a famous parent and a beautiful, brilliant mother, Kelly describes the rocky road of growing up while her family sacrifices to realize George's dream and also keep a family together during the journey. Today people love to demonize people who use recreational drugs or alcohol or suffer from addiction. Kelly doesn't demonize her parents, but looks at their use and addictions with the maturity and perspective not of a bitter woman, but as a child does with two wonderful parents, and the people they turned into when they used. The Three Musketeers--her family (and mine!) is what they called themselves. Kelly and I are only 9 years apart, and it amazed me how we shared so many experiences. We love our parents and give them credit for their great qualities. There are HURRAY moments where George shares his humor, kindness, his music, sends her flowers after she's in a musical. You just grow to love him along with Kelly, and you also see her pain as she misses him when he's on the road. Mom Brenda drank, and that also pulls the foundation of your security of a child out from under you. You compose a life as an adult where you look back and take the bad times that made you sharp, smart, but also where you learned to be afraid and how that breaks you and builds you stronger. You love the good times more. You adore the sober parent and how fabulous they were. You mourn them when they become that Other person. She doesn't resort to demonizing them. To be healthy and compose a life, you must compose your history. She loves them for their merits and the great people they were. She also works through the problems they had and grows into a smart, strong, fiercely witty, brilliant adult with a new foundation. Children of addiction like me understand this. You take the story of your life, celebrate the beauty, the good times, the love and you give meaning to the hardship and you rebuild your life and your story without bitterness. The realization that her father was a lot like my mother. My father was a lot like Brenda Carlin. My childhood was so much like her's, and somehow, we both became adults with perspective, stronger for the experience, but still mourning the time that was lost to addiction. But you grow and you cherish your life for the greatness and the lessons. And you just love them. We write, we go on, and we become the author of our own story. There's power in this, and also in knowing that Kelly Carlin did it. (So I can, too!) Her story is a victory, with sadness and courage and some of the most observant and witty humor mixed in. I look forward to more of her work in the future, and I'm grateful that she gave us this glimpse of her life with George. All life is messy, sad, tragic, wonderful and a bit crazy. But to compose a book like this is to heal, find closure, and celebrate the love and the life of her family. She's an amazing person with an original voice and I can't wait to read more--I hope she continues to write. Rock on Kelly. You have a gift that speaks to children of addiction, and also people who appreciate sharp wit. Keep on composing your life. We can't wait to read more!